Evening was fast descending as we went out of our room to check Sheraton Bandung’s premises. We arrived at the hotel an hour before, tired but in high spirits after exploring the NuArt Gallery and the Saung Angklung Udjo, the cultural heart of the city. But even with our feet protesting, we were more than excited to see what this luxury hotel has to offer.

INTERESTING CHANDELIER SPREAD AT THE LOBBY

THE ATRIUM POOL AREA

Sheraton Bandung Hotel & Towers, the only five-star resort in the area, is conveniently located across the Jalan Ir. H. Juanda highway on the northern side of the city. Its lodgings sprawl on three floors along a 2.3-hectare propery in Dago Valley, with two swimming pools on its atrium, its focal point.

LOVELY KISSES-LIKE SEATS ALONG THE ATRIUM

I was actually wondering about the towers part of their name as I really can’t see any from anywhere along its grounds. It turns out that while they’re really not the towers you imagined them to be, they’re part of an exclusive area on the third floor which caters to Towers Rooms and Suite house guests. In short, for high-so people only, lol.

OUR DELUXE ROOM, SLEEPING HERE FOR TWO NIGHTS

Us, we’re booked on the lower floors of the hotel, particularly at the Deluxe Room on the second floor [CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY]. You won’t hear us complaining though. Our room, facing the pool, is quite spacious and has a mini-veranda to boot too.

I LIKE ITS MINIMALIST FINISH

Decorated in soft tones, the floor is carpeted in soft floral prints which is echoed on a recessed alcove right above the bed. The rest of the walls are finished in muted whites and yellows, warmly lit with stylish cube-shaped lamps.

TOILET AND BATH

I love the fact that each room has a working desk, perfect for a quick update on the blog, and a loveseat with a mini-table for coffee breaks. It would’ve been perfect if we also have seats right by the balcony.

We were staying for three days at the Sheraton Bandung, and on our first night, dinner was set at one of their three food places, the Feast Restaurant. It was a Friday Night Buffet night and and we’re quite excited to try out Indonesian dishes along with a few Western favorites.

LOCAL MUSICIANS AT THE RESTAURANT

Our table was set al fresco, with a view overlooking the pool. It was quite lovely, what with a trio of musicians serenading us with Indonesian songs played over with local instruments like saluang, a flute made of bamboo, and a kacapi, a zither-like Sudanese stringed instrument.

BANDUNG BEER NIGHTS AT THE VERDE RESTO & LOUNGE

With the party ending earlier than expected, we went out of the hotel to try if we can find any bars to continue our stories over at. On that particular night, our feet led us inside an angkot, Indonesia’s version of the jeepney, and over to Verde Resto and Lounge, a somewhat upscale bar but with surprisingly cheap Bintang towers. It was just a few minutes from Sheraton, which was perfect for walking back at the hotel with wobbly feet.

The next night, while everyone were going gaga over shopping, we went somewhere closer. A and M, our friends from Thailand, led us to an alley adjacent to the hotel where a speakeasy-ish bar is located. It looked like a regular house with its ground floor turned into a watering hole. You’d pass it over if you’re not aware of it. And after clearing the bar of beers, we were off to a warung eatery for a confusing order of mie goreng recovery food. Fun!

MY BREAKFAST!

Yes, our nights in Bandung was quite rowdy, thanks to Sheraton’s superb location. But the mornings after was just what we needed to sober us up. With the air still nippy, we’d sneak early from our room to the restaurant for a buffet feast. Well, they have no pork bacons since the restaurant is halal, but they do have beef bacons and noodles and dumplings and sausages and more importantly, kerupuk. And that’s more than good enough for me.